A combined classroom is the concept of placing the students from two successive grades in a single classroom with one teacher. This trend is constantly on the rise and many researches have been conducted all over the world whether this new concept is a good move or not. This concept has both supporters and those who oppose it. The people who are concerned about this concept are mostly the parents.
The researches which were conducted show evidence that the students, in split grades, perform as good as the students in the combined grade classes (Riggio, 2015). The diversity in the syllabus actually helps a student in a big away. It offers a taste for both the kinds of students – the students who are above average and can cope up with studies above their grade level and the students who are below average. The students at a single grade level are generally not exposed much outside of their classrooms. The concept of combined classrooms increases this exposure factor by introducing them to their seniors. Generally, in a split grade classroom, teachers change every year and hence there is a loss in continuity. But in a combination classroom a student has the same teacher for two years at least and this helps the teacher in monitoring the students better (Cornish, 2015). When the student has the same teacher for two or more years, then naturally the bond is strong between them and the student will also relate to the teaching methods of that teacher and it will naturally enhance their academic performance. It also creates an environment where the students interact with all kinds of people and not only the people who are of their age. The main advantage of this is sharing of knowledge through increased exposure and this will surely help the students perform well. It also helps the students in learning skills other than just learning like communication skills and management skills as they interact with a lot of people.
The combined classroom method is actually a boon to the students which increases various skills other than just knowledge and learning. It increases exposure, inter-personality skills, management skills and a lot more (“An Introduction to Combined Classrooms”, 2007). By integrating two or more grades into one, a perfect learning community can be formed, with the help of expert teachers, in molding the students into perfect human beings.
Bibliography
Riggio, R. E. (2015, May 18). Why Children Might Benefit From Combination Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201505/why-children-might-benefit-combination-classroom
The article by Riggio is a simple, frank and easily reaches the masses. His title of the article gives us an idea about which side he is on in this argument, thus supporting our cause. He lists out the various advantages of combined classrooms ranging from academic performance to the advantage of having the same teacher for more than two years and peer to peer learning. Riggio is a Ph.D. holder in psychology and a professor at Claremont McKenna College. He lists out the various points as to why combined classrooms are better than the usual classrooms and hence his article is highly relevant. He lists various advantages of combined classrooms such as flexibility , improved self- confidence and the same teacher method.
Wejr, C. (2012 ,September 9). Will My Child Be OK In A Split Class?. Retrieved from http://chriswejr.com/2012/09/09/will-my-child-be-ok-in-a-split-class/
The title of the article by Wejr, gives us the idea that it is from the viewpoint of parents worried about their children. He lists out the various worries of the parents and their questions regarding the performance of their child in the combined classroom method. Then the author proceeds to address and answer the various worries of the parents and his article assures them that there is no real reason to worry. He quotes several studies and researches in his article to support his case of reassuring the parents about the safety of their children in multi age classroom concept. The article is published by the Wejr Board and written by Chris Wejr, who is the teacher and principal of an elementary school and hence it is a reliable source of information. It reassures the parents that there is no reason for fear and that the combined classrooms have only benefits such as improved interaction and academic performance.
Cornish, L. (2015, April 7). Are mixed-grade classes any better or worse for learning? Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/are-mixed-grade-classes-any-better-or-worse-for-learning-38856
Kelly, D. (2015, September 17). Are split grades something to worry about? Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/are-split-grades-something-to-worry-about/article26390439/
Kelly uses examples of personal incidents to analyze the concept of combined classrooms. She starts with an anecdote of an anxious parent who was worried about how her child will handle the combined classroom learning. She reassures that there is nothing to worry and identifies the schools where this concept was implemented successfully and found that the students were coming out with flying colors. She gives a quick account of all the studies and experts opinions which support the cause of combined classrooms and also gives the opinions of various parents about their take on this topic and most of them are positive. This article is published by the ‘Globe and Mail’ which is a reputed newspaper. It takes into account the different fears of parents and addresses them in way that it quells their fear about combined classroom.
Thalheimer, Will. K-12 Classrooms: Research Review of Multigrade, Multiage, Combination Classrooms. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.work-learning.com/2010/11/k-12-classrooms-research-review-of-multigrade-multiage-combination-classrooms.html
This is a review article of various studies and researches by Will Thalheimer. He starts of by saying that it is not an exhaustive review and says that it is just a quick review, rather like an overview. He identifies the context of the combined classrooms and defines the concept of single grade and multi grade classrooms. He lists the number of researches conducted on this area and analyzes their quality and standard of each research. Then he presents the result of the studies in three areas – teaching, grades and emotional stability. He sums it up by saying about the benefits of multi grade classroom and about the people who can reap benefits from it. It is published by an education based research forum which exists from the year of 1998 and hence it is a credible source. This article also takes valuable points from other research papers and along with the author’s take on the classroom system, thus supporting our case. All the research papers offers positive views on this subject.
WELS. (2009, May). The Advantages of a Multi -grade Classroom. Retrieved from www.crossofglory.org/home//Advantages_Multigrade_brochure.pdf.
This is essentially a brochure released by a well-known educational institution stating the reasons to support the concept of combined classrooms. They state that the concept of combined classroom were used widely during our ancestor but was then later abolished due to selfish reasons. They stress on the fact that the combined classrooms must be brought back to improve the standard of education. They give various points on how the combined classrooms are beneficial and they give an account of their success rate on using this concept in their schools.
Though this article is not written by a well-defined author, its credibility can be verified since it is a document of a highly prestigious educational institution WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) Lutheran Schools which has around 25 schools associated with it all over the country. The entire article is based on the advantages of combined classroom and thus it supports our case. It highlights the scenario of a tried and tested combined classroom environment and it is not just any other research paper.
What Works? Research into Practice. (2007, December). Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/research/WW_BestPractices.pdf
This article is published by The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat. The article starts of by giving a synopsis of the research it has undertaken. They list out and explain the various ways in which the concept of combined classrooms can be improved to provide a better experience. These points are based on the research works of more than 20 studies as published in their bibliography. It is a credible source of information since it is a joint publication by The Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat along with the Ontario Association of Deans of Education. It supports our cause by stating the effectiveness of combined classrooms and how it can be improved even better. If it is improved by using the techniques in the article then naturally the concept would gain more followers.
This article is aimed at reassuring parents that there is nothing to worry about when it comes to the concept of combined classrooms. They give a detailed overview but in a simple and presentable manner about the concepts of combined classrooms and how it will help in aiding their children in honing their skills. They answer the various questions of parents in a simple and effective manner. Parents generally fear combined classroom since they don’t even know what it is about. This article is helpful in making them know a lot about combined classrooms and hence it reduces their fears. Many people fear it only because of their ignorance. This article is designed to enlighten them. This article is reliable since it is published by the Ministry of Education of Canada itself.
Naylor, C. (2000, January). BCTF Research Report. Retrieved from https://bctf.ca/publications/ResearchReports.aspx?id=5560
Naylor presents a comprehensive article about the concept of combined classrooms by referencing a lot of studies and researches. He starts off by reasoning for the existence of such a concept by listing out various points supporting the case. He generally focuses on the benefits which the students reap from combined classrooms other than their grades and marks. He reviews a lot of studies to support his cause. He quotes a research text to find out the reason for the existence of such a concept and then he reviews more than 7 research studies to undermine the effects of combined classrooms. Thus, instead of presenting his personal opinion Naylor uses the works of several studies and researches to support his cause.
This research report is published by the prestigious British Columbia Teacher’s federation in Section XII of its BCTF research report. It supports our case by quoting various research papers which had been done on the importance of combined classrooms. All the research papers have analyzed combined classrooms from different viewpoints and all have the same conclusion , that it is beneficial.
Ricci, C. (2015, April 20). Many parents dislike composite classes but the evidence does not support their anxiety. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/many-parents-dislike-composite-classes-but-the-evidence-does-not-support-their-anxiety-20150413-1mk4g9.html
Ricci discusses about the current scenario of education which incorporates combined classroom, as the ‘multi-age classroom as he calls it, and he examines the reasons behind this phenomenon to rise so large in the world. His article title ‘Many parents dislike composite classes but the evidence does not support their anxiety’ suggests on which side he is on, in this argument. He examines the locations where the combined classrooms are implemented and he says that it commonly occurs in US, England, Ireland, Scotland and Canada due to various problems such as classroom strength. He identifies the positives in the Combined Classroom method and states the students should be taught on the basis of what stage they are in rather than on the basis of their age. He gives us the critics’ reception of combined classrooms. Then he says that parents have no real reason to worry about this concept as there are many positives in this technique and he ends it up by saying that it is high time people started giving more thought to teaching quality rather than classroom formation.
This article is can be cited and is credible since it is published in one of the most popular and widely read national newspapers of Australia – The Sydney Morning Herald. The author knows where the insecurity lies and he addresses it in the best way possible. This article supports our thesis since it gives detail explanations as to why combined classrooms are the best choice for in the education field currently because it is more flexible, allows the children to work at their own pace and offers a wide range of friendship opportunities.
